SHARKS NOTEBOOK / Back-to-back games suit Sharks just fine

2004-04-13 04:00:00 PDT St. Louis -- There will be no rest for the weary as the Sharks and Blues go right back at it tonight in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series. The Sharks should be happy about the playoff-scheduling rarity of games on back-to-back nights because they are the ones with younger legs and have a perceived advantage in speed over the Blues.

San Jose lost just three times in regulation in 16 games played on the second night of back-to-backs during the regular season. Coach Ron Wilson cautions, however, the postseason can be different.

"The playoffs are so intense sometimes you need a day to cool down either way," Wilson said. "I'm not a big proponent of back-to-backs in the playoffs, but that's the situation and you have to deal with it."

Judging by results in regular-season games played on second nights for the Blues, who were just 5-13-1, St. Louis should be more concerned.

"You always like to have that day in between for preparation," coach Mike Kitchen said. "But all year we've had to play back-to-back games and four in six nights. If you had to travel it would be a different story."

Blue Blues: Still smarting from their penalty-filled Game 2, the Blues haven't been thrilled with the officiating in the series.

"The league should just let us play," said Keith Tkachuk, who had five minors in the first two games and had the second most minutes (10) on the team to Chris Pronger's 12.

League officials were reminded in a pre-playoff memorandum to call games just as if it's the regular season. Blues forward Scott Mellanby isn't so sure that's being executed.

"(NHL Commissioner) Gary Bettman can say what he wants about the status quo and what not, but it's not the status quo," he said. "On the other hand, we're taking penalties we can't take."

McCauley update: Alyn McCauley missed his second straight due to injury (left shoulder, wrist or hand), but remains a possibility for tonight's game.

"He's rapidly improving," Wilson said.

Don't be surprised if the Sharks slip rookie center Marcel Goc into Game 4 to try to inject a little more offense into their attack.

Briefly: Blues forward Ryan Johnson didn't return after sustaining an apparent left-knee injury after absorbing a clean hip check by Alexander Korolyuk early in the game. "Alex was unbelievable," Wilson said. "We need that from everybody, not just the smallest forward. He was a warrior." ... Defenseman Chris Pronger led the Blues in ice time again with 26:19.